KINDERGARTEN WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 7

KINDERGARTEN WORK.

THE AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION.

TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS. «

The eighth annual meeting of the Auckland Kindergarten Association was held yesterday afternoon. The president, Mr. L. J. Bagnall, occupied the :hair. The annual report, which was adopted, chronicled n record of progress and good work in the three kindergartens—the Campbell, Newmarket, and St. James. All three were stated to have been of great benefit to the small children in their respective districts, and also of great convenience to their mothers. It had been hoped that a fourth kindergarten—The Myers—might have been opened early this year, but the building was still unfinished, the contractors being delayed by the non-delivery of the iron window frames. The opening could not be expected to take place before the third term, in September. The annual balance-sheet showed that the income for the year had been slightly less than the expenditure. The council called attention to the fact that the subscriptions of members for the year amounted to, only £70 10/, a sum totally disproportionate to the scope and character.of the work undertaken for the benefit of the children of Auckland. The other of income were students' fees, Government subsidy, Dilworth annuity, and the proceeds of special functions which were more or less limited and subject to fluctuations, while the demands for the work of the Association were always increasing. Each new kindergarten required about £150 for its annual upkeep. The report recorded the bequest of £500 from the late Mr. J. C. Macky, who lost his life in the Lusitania disaster. The president said in his address that the fact that so great an interest had been maintained in the working of tlif Association, and that such good work had been done during the year wa; evidence that it had a large number ol . firiend)3. He hoped an (improvement I would take place in the matter of mem bcrs' subscriptions, which were a de creasing quantity. An improvement wa< specially necessary in view of the in creased expenditure involved in thi taking over of the new kindergarten. Mr. E. K. Mulgan, chief inspector o ! public schools, congratulated the Asso j dation upon the excellent manner it i which the kindergarten work had bcei ! carried out, but added that it was .' i matter of regret that greater publh ! interest was not taken in their work I The Association had lost the services 'of n large number of efficient worker. !in the war, and there was an urgent ', call for teachers to thoroughly trail ' the workers of the future. i It waß very desirable, continued Mr : Mulgan, that teachers should be abb ito secure kindergarten certifimtes ii New Zealand. At present only junior oi elemental certificates were available, but during his recent visit to England Ik had waited on the National Froebe, Union, and had urged that its annual examinations should be held in Now | Zealand, so that teachers in the Dominj ion might have an opportunity of siti ting for the higher examination. It was I proposed to hold examinations twice* a j year, on dates corresponding to the time of the English examinations. The papers would bo the same as those set for candidates at Home. Officere for the ensuing year were elected as follow:—President, tho Rev. W. Beatty, MA.; vice-presidents, Mrs. P. Oliphant and Mr. H. G. Cousins j hon. treasurer, Mr. G. O'Halloran; hon. se~ » rotary, Mr. E. Brooke-Smith; hon. auditor, Mr. W. R. Holmes; council, Mesdames Aubin, W. Coleman, A. M. Ferguson, E. A. Roberton, and Lady Lockhart, Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, E. K. Mulgan, and C. J. Tunke, and Dr. W. C. McDowell.